One Of Chile's Most Popular And Beautiful Tourist Destinations Is On Fire

A raging fire has closed down Torres del Paine National Park and
forced the evacuation of tourists in southern Chile (via
Bloomberg).

Over its four day lifespan, the fire has already consumed 14,000
acres of protected forest and grasslands in the beautiful
Patagonia region. Winds over 50 miles an hour are expected to fan
the flames today.

The Ultima Esperanza province has been put on red alert, as
dozens of Chilean firefighters and hundreds of military personnel
from both Chile and Argentina have been deployed to fight the
fire.

Though a mandatory evacuation was not ordered, some tourists had
to be removed from sites closest to the blaze, and the park is
now closed to new entries until the danger has subsided.

Most of the damage has taken place far from the park's main
attractions and hiking trails.